To capitalize on the nation's new attraction to auto racing following World War II, park owner Edward J. Carroll demolished the dance hall that had burned down in 1948. In its place laid out a flat 1/5-mile oval track, pit area and grandstand alongside the Connecticut River. The first full season of "modified" stock car racing was 1949.
The track closed at the end of the 1999 season. Five-time track champion Bob Polverari won the final race, after which participants started digging up pieces of the track asphalt for souvenirs.[1] In 2000 when the park re-opened as Six Flags New England, the race track was demolished and the DC Universe themed area (including the roller coaster Superman The Ride) was built in its place.
Referencesedit
^Courchesne, Shawn (June 17, 1999) "Final Lap for Riverside Speedway" Hartford Courant, p .C2
External linksedit
Riverside Park Speedway archive at Racing-Reference
riverside, park, speedway, confused, with, defunct, riverside, international, raceway, moreno, valley, california, riverside, international, speedway, nova, scotia, riverside, international, speedway, west, memphis, arkansas, mile, oval, paved, race, track, lo. Not to be confused with the defunct Riverside International Raceway in Moreno Valley California or the Riverside International Speedway in Nova Scotia or the Riverside International Speedway West Memphis Arkansas Riverside Park Speedway was a 1 4 mile oval paved race track located at the present site of Six Flags New England in Agawam Massachusetts one mile north of the Massachusetts Connecticut state line To capitalize on the nation s new attraction to auto racing following World War II park owner Edward J Carroll demolished the dance hall that had burned down in 1948 In its place laid out a flat 1 5 mile oval track pit area and grandstand alongside the Connecticut River The first full season of modified stock car racing was 1949 The track closed at the end of the 1999 season Five time track champion Bob Polverari won the final race after which participants started digging up pieces of the track asphalt for souvenirs 1 In 2000 when the park re opened as Six Flags New England the race track was demolished and the DC Universe themed area including the roller coaster Superman The Ride was built in its place References edit Courchesne Shawn June 17 1999 Final Lap for Riverside Speedway Hartford Courant p C2External links editRiverside Park Speedway archive at Racing Reference42 2 17 7 N 72 36 42 96 W 42 038250 N 72 6119333 W 42 038250 72 6119333 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Riverside Park Speedway amp oldid 1176249331, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
